Earlier this month, Clemson extended a verbal offer to Folsom (Calif.) four-star wide receiver Joseph Ngata.

Ngata (6-3, 195) is a unanimous top-250 prospect in the 2019 class according to the major recruiting services.

“It was huge, to be honest,” Ngata said of the offer in an interview with TCI. “Just knowing that it’s Clemson and knowing that they’re one of the best programs in college football, just knowing what coach Swinney does and their offense, what they do with the receivers… It’s pretty awesome.”

Clemson wide receivers coach Jeff Scott informed Ngata of his opportunity to play for the Tigers.

“I called him, so we were just talking about Clemson and my game,” Ngata said. “It was all straightforward, so it was pretty good.

“He likes my versatility and that there’s nothing I can’t do well. I’m super versatile, and that’s one thing he likes about me.”

With a rich tradition of talent and production at the wide receiver position, Clemson has staked its claim to the title of “Wide Receiver University.”

Ngata said that appeals to him when he considers Clemson as a college option.

“I take a lot of pride in playing receiver,” he said. “So knowing that it’s a Wide Receiver U, you just feel like they actually care about their craft as wide receivers as opposed to some other schools. For instance, like a run-first school.”

Ngata hopes to get his first in-person look at Clemson this spring.

“I’m probably going to go in the spring, either in March or April,” he said. “That’s the plan for now.

“I want to see the culture they have over there. It would be good to see firsthand the culture that coach Scott explained and everything that he talks about.”

Ngata has added offers from Florida, Florida State and Michigan in January as well to go with a long list of other offers that includes Notre Dame, Penn State, Southern Cal, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Utah.

He isn’t naming any favorites right now but feels a few schools have been recruiting him the hardest.

“Washington, USC and Notre Dame are recruiting me the hardest right now along with Utah,” he said.

Is Ngata open to leaving the West Coast to continue his football career in the future?

“It might be hard,” he said. “But at the same time, when something’s benefiting you, distance shouldn’t be something that holds you back.”

Ngata also wants to visit Alabama this spring.

As a junior last season, Ngata tallied 81 receptions for 1,777 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was named the 2017 All-Metro Player of the Year and a MaxPreps Junior All-American after leading his team to the CIF Division I state championship.